Blitz in Millard?s backyard

IT takes a lot to leave Lee Millard speechless, but coming face to face with a camera and fluffy microphone, closely followed by Jamie Durie, Scott Cam, Jody Rigby and Nigel Ruck, from Backyard Blitz, did the trick. "I was totally blown away by the whole thing," Lee said.

"We feel really privileged. I'd seen the program only the week before, and I was thinking this only happens to people who are really doing it tough."

But then, some might say Lee has been doing it pretty tough, having survived breast cancer twice.

As breast care nurse at the Coffs Harbour Health Campus and president of Titivators Dragons Abreast, she has also inspired countless women with breast cancer.

"Lee is a pretty amazing lady, not only has she been a fantastic member of the community, but she is also an ambassador for anyone who knows someone or who is suffering from breast cancer," Jamie said.

"About 12,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 2000 pass away, but if detected early, it's not a death sentence and Lee is living proof of that.

"And her partner Mark and two kids Nick and Cassie have been wonderful suppport to her and her cause."

From Lee's very bare backyard, Jamie said the Backyard Blitz team had tried to create a luscious resort-style garden.

"You guys are lucky here in Coffs Harbour, because you can grow a whole range of sub-tropical plants," he said.

"We wanted to create a sanctuary, where the family can relax and reconnect with nature, with a bit of hydrotherapy!"

A new spa ? which hasn't had a rest since ? is sunken into a brand new deck, while the new garden features a dry river bed running through a boardwalk, surrounded by attractive plants ranging from ajuga, triangle palms and frangipanis, to birds of paradise, philodendron xanadu, and cycads.

While the Backyard Blitz team was hard at work digging, planting and building, Lee, Mark, Cassie and Nicholas enjoyed time off in Melbourne.

"We met with a cameraman and producer, they filmed us the whole time," Lee said.

"They were fantastic. They really kept us busy and went out of their way to make us feel like a million bucks."

For the Backyard Blitz team, it's all in a day's work, but they do admit it's not a bad gig.

"It's the greatest job in the world," Jamie said.

"It's all give, one of those rare shows that are a complete win-win situation. The public enjoys watching it and gets to learn about our community heroes, the recipient gets a great garden, and we get to educate more people about the wonderful world of plants."